I have been friends with Jacques and Paula for nearly 7 years now. It's crazy to think about how much time has passed and how much has happened since we first met! Thankfully, we have photographs to help us freeze time over those years as I have been honored to document most of their major life events.

Since Paula was pregnant when I visited last year, I knew I needed to get out there to meet their latest addition to the family, Judah. And, of course, to get some photos of the expanding family. It is tradition, after all! One of my favorite traditions, too.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the family. As always, it was truly a pleasure to spend some time with dear friends in an awesome city. I'm already looking forward to my next trip, whenever that may be... :)

Some of you will remember Jacques and Paula from previous photo shoots. Or you may even have the good fortune of knowing them personally. Seriously, they are some of my favorite people ever. My first engagement photo shoot was with them. Since then, I've documented their wedding and growing family, and it's become tradition for me to be there to photograph their major life events. We've joked that I would have to fly to wherever they are to keep up this tradition.

Last year, Paula graduated from medical school and matched in Seattle. When I realized I would be in California to photograph Jill's wedding, I decided to see if I could incorporate a Seattle leg to my trip in order to visit them. It worked out beautifully and must have been fate, as I found out Paula was pregnant again! In addition to getting to spend time with them and their absolutely adorable son, Noah, I was more than happy to be able to photograph them again. They are such a beautiful family, and I'm so happy to see them settling in so well to their life in Seattle.

Sunsets in Seattle soothe my soul. I realized this last night as I walked along the water, heading from Pike's Place Market over to the Olympic Sculpture Park. Along the way I made some new friends who, seeing my SLR, asked me to take a picture of their group with the bay in the background. When we crossed paths again and I heard they were going to do a jump shot, naturally I volunteered to take the picture so the whole group could get in the shot. Also opted to use my camera after two failed attempts with her iPhone. I think I'll start offering to do that more often.

Once I parted ways with that crew (approximately 10 seconds after one lit up a joint...coincidental timing, I swear), I wandered by myself, stopping to take pictures of the bay, boats and skyline. The sun sets so slowly here it seems. I'm not sure how long I wandered around Seattle. I go into my happy place when I'm walking in a city I like. I have little idea about how long or how far I walk; I just know how centered and content I feel. As social as I tend to be, I'm actually an introvert and I need time to myself and crave silence from time to time in order to recharge. This trip is really helping provide just that, along with the chance to spend time with family and friends I don't get to see very often anymore.

Tonight some of my family took me out for Thai food, followed by gelato and a trip down to the Chittenden locks. It was another gorgeous evening and I enjoyed watching some boats go through the locks, a train cross a bridge over the water and just spending some time with family. I didn't bring my camera cord for uploading pictures, but I did have my cellphone on hand at pretty much all times. So enjoy some teaser images and look for more pictures once I return to DC. Until then...